The owners of a golden retriever said they watched as a pit bull attacked and killed their puppy at an Omaha pet store.

Wednesday night, a judge decided against impounding the pit bull and ordered the Nebraska Humane Society to return the dog to its owners.

Advertisement

The incident happened on Monday at the PetsMart near Oakview Mall. Jessica Rosenthal said both her puppy and the pit bull had been dropped off for grooming services. She said she had just arrived to pick up her pup when the pit bull somehow got out of its kennel and rushed toward the puppy.

"I started yelling, 'Oh, my God,' to get someone's attention," Rosenthal said. "Then I ran in, my husband ran in and straddled the pitbull. I grabbed the puppy. It was just dangling -- just hanging there."

The dog died less than an hour after the attack.

Rosenthal said she and her family had only owned Bailey for a month.

The Nebraska Humane Society took custody of the pit bull. Officials said it appeared the dog has been well taken care of and is loved by its family.

NHS Vice President of field operations Mark Langan said the pit bull's family is sickened by what happened. He said that even though they weren't there at the time of the attack, they will be ticketed for harboring a dangerous animal.

"The ordinance specifically states that the owner -- whether the dog is in their possession or not -- the owner is responsible for that dog's actions," Langan said.

Langan said investigators have not yet determined whether PetsMart faces any liability. The attack was caught on videotape inside the store, and Langan said officials will continue to analyze the images.

PetsMart said it is investigating, too. A representative said the pit bull should never have been able to get out of the kennel.